By communion, I know that I have made my decision. I don’t know what it means to be called, but I know that I am being nagged. Nagged by God, nagged by my own desires, I’m not sure. But I am sure that I want to find out.
Mama walks with Marcello and Lindo on the way home, reprimanding Lindo for again falling asleep in mass at his age. She has one boy on each arm, hoping that she won’t slip on the ice. Mr. Marchetti is arm in arm with a very tired Rose, and Papa and I are lagging behind. I purposely walked with him so that we could talk.
“Pa, can we talk?”
“We’re talking, figlia.”
“I need to tell you something, and I don’t know how to do it. I’m afraid of what Mama is going to say.”
“I can take care of Mama. Say what’s on your mind.”
“I don’t want to marry Flavio, Pa. I would like to consider the convent. I’d like to become a novice in the Sisters of Mercy.”
Pa stops completely and faces me. “Are you serious?”
“I’m serious, Pa.”
He puts his hands on top of his head in disbelief. “Madonna mia.”
My heart is falling because I can see that he isn’t overjoyed. I’m looking at the ground when he pulls my chin up with his hand. “You’re right. Your mama is not going to take this well!”
Pa pulls me to him, and we hug tightly. He puts his arm around me, and we walk home a little in silence. Finally he speaks to me again, “Are you sure you have thought this out? You don’t have to be a nun. If you don’t want to marry Flavio, you don’t have to marry him. There will be other boys. And if you don’t want to marry other boys, you don’t have to marry anyone. Your mama and I would be happy to have you with us forever. You know that, don’t you?”
I really didn’t know that, but I nod anyway. I have felt like they would be happier to see me married off, so his words are a great consolation to me.
“I’m sure of my decision, Pa. I’ve thought it over for a long time now. I talked to Sister Norbert, too. This is what I need to do.”
Pa nods. First, Giova leaves, and now I want to leave. It can’t be easy for him. “If my daughter wants to give her life to God, how can I refuse Him? Dio la benedice, figlia.”
“Thank you, Pa.” I feel a huge relief that I have made a decision and that I have shared it with him. Six months ago, I did not feel mature enough to make any decision. Tonight, I feel like I finally and clearly can see the road ahead.
Up ahead, Lindo turns around and hollers out to us. “Come on, you two! What are you waiting for?”
“Go on ahead,” shouts Pa. “I’m talking to my grown-up daughter.”
About the Author
MELODY VELTRI grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a B.A. in Professional Writing from Carnegie-Mellon University and an M.A. in Communications from Point Park College. She taught college composition classes for over twenty years before returning to school to earn a teaching certificate and now teaches English and Communications at Ada High School in Ada, Ohio.
Melody has been married to Stephen Veltri, a law professor at Ohio Northern University and also a native of Pittsburgh, for 30 years. They have grown daughters.
The Creeds that Move Men's Hearts Page 21
